According to a peer-reviewed analysis of phase 2 clinical trial data released Monday, an oral medication produced by Pfizer medicine induces a comparable level of weight reduction as rival Novo Nordisk’s popular injection Ozempic.
Late last year, the findings were presented at a medical conference; no comparisons were made between Ozempic or other weight-loss drugs and Pfizer medicine. It took JAMA Network some time to publish a peer-reviewed study.
The Pfizer Experiment
In a Pfizer medicine experiment, 411 persons with Type 2 diabetes were given either a placebo or the company’s medication, danuglipron, twice daily. The study discovered that after patients took either the 120-milligram or 80-milligram forms of danuglipron for 16 weeks, their body weight was “statistically significantly reduced.” Over that time, patients who took a 120-milligram version dropped, on average, about 10 pounds.
As an alternative to regular injections, Pfizer medicine may have a benefit. Although there are significant disparities in dose levels, the study’s findings also imply that danuglipron may be just as beneficial for weight loss as Ozempic. According to a phase 3 clinical trial on Ozempic, adults who received a 1-milligram dose of the injection lost an average of 9.9 pounds over the course of 30 weeks. Once per week, patients receive that shot.
Cause for caution with weight loss drugs like Ozempic | Peter Attia, M.D.
Drug usage for Diabetes
In the US, Ozempic is approved to treat diabetes, but it’s also being taken off-label to help people lose weight. Wegovy, a similar medication made by Novo Nordisk, is licensed for “chronic weight management.” In a Wegovy phase 3 clinical trial, adults who received a weekly injection of 2.4 milligrams on average lost 33 pounds over 68 weeks.
Drugs of the glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist class include Danuglipron, Ozempic, and Wegovy. They imitate the GLP-1 hormone, which alerts the brain when a person is full and is generated in the gut. The medications can also aid in the management of Type 2 diabetes because they promote the production of insulin from the pancreas, which lowers blood sugar levels.
Also Read: High Caffeine intake could Reduce Weight and Diabetes Risk
